University dean faces court charged with ‘launching a fake trolling campaign against HERSELF’ – a month after she copped backlash for axing a popular medicine course
- Dianne Jolley, 49, claimed she had received threatening letters
- She also claimed hat her clothes were being stolen from her backyard
- Police started and investigation with security measures to protect her
- She was arrested earlier this month after police claim she fabricated whole thing
The UTS professor accused of orchestrating a fake harassment campaign against herself had received backlash after cancelling a popular course months earlier, it has been revealed.
Dianne Jolley, 49, has been charged with obtaining financial advantage by deception, giving false information, and false representation resulting in police investigation.
She appeared at Downing Centre Court on Wednesday where she pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Ms Jolley, who had served as the dean of the faculty of science since last December, told police she had received a number of threatening letters between July and November.
The lecturer (right) has been charged after allegedly carrying out a fake harassment campaign against herself
She claimed in July she had received threatening letters regarding the recent cancellation of a course.
Earlier, UTS announced it would no longer offer its course in Traditional Chinese Medicine after a 25-year run.
The decision was based on ‘poor financial viability, research productivity, and strategic fit within the Faculty of Science,’ a university spokesman told local media at the time.
The cancellation of the popular course angered students and alumni who later launched a petition.
Ms Jolley claimed she had received a letter regarding the cancellation of the program.
She claimed one letter had been left on her car in Sydney’s south alongside items of clothing.
The dean’s decision to cancel a popular Chinese medicine course was met with backlash from students, who launched a petition
The academic (right), 49, claimed she was getting threatening letters and that her clothes were being stolen from her backyard
Then on September 16 and September 25, the woman reported two more threatening letters.
Police then launched ‘significant’ security measures to protect her while they investigated.
Ms Jolley was arrested her on campus two weeks ago after police claim she allegedly fabricated the whole thing.
She was charged with dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception, give false information person/property in danger, and false representation resulting in police investigation.
Ms Jolley was granted bail before appearing at Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday.
Speaking to reporters outside of court, her lawyer Aaron Kerneghan, Ms Jolley’s claims of harassment were real.
‘She has been experiencing a long and steady progress of difficulties at the University by people who obviously have interests in the way in which universities are run,’ Mr Kerneghan said.